Jokowi Assures Regional Head Elections Set in November

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or  Jokowi ensured that the 2024 regional head elections would be held according to schedule. Jokowi said there was no request from the government to accelerate the regional elections.

"At present, there is no such thing as accelerating or advancing the regional elections. Yes, the elections will be held (in November), there is no submission whatsoever regarding (election reschedule)," said Jokowi when met at Pasar Baru Karawang, Karawang Regency, West Java, on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.

This year's regional head elections are scheduled for November 27, 2024. However, the House of Representatives or DPR proposes accelerating the implementation of the upcoming elections from November to September 2024.

DPR agreed in November 2023 to discuss the Bill concerning the fourth amendment to Law No. 1 of 2015 concerning Regional Head Elections as a DPR-initiated Bill in a Plenary Session.

Member of the DPR Legislative Body Firman Soebagyo had previously requested a Presidential Letter containing the government's approval to discuss the Bill with the DPR. Firman believes that the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) would not mind if the regulatory revision is discussed in the middle of the 2024 General Elections.

"We have no idea whether the government will continue discussing the bill or refuse to do so," said Firman in a written statement, in Jakarta, on Thursday, February 29, 2024.

The Constitutional Court has also prohibited the acceleration of the election schedule, as contained in the consideration of the decision in case number 12/PUU-XXII/2024.

Constitutional Justice Daniel Yusmic P. Foekh said that the regional elections must be carried out according to schedule to avoid overlapping between the incomplete crucial stages of the 2024 General Elections and the Regional Head Elections.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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